Pace Center for Girls Escambia-Santa Rosa will host its highly-anticipated Men Who Cook event at the Sanders Beach Corrine Jones Resource Center on Sunday, April 19, 2026 (4 – 7pm). This exciting, one-of-a-kind chef competition will feature both amateur and professional male chefs volunteering their time and talents to prepare a variety of mouthwatering dishes from appetizers and sides to main courses and desserts, all in support of Pace girls and young women. Get your tickets here: 2026 Men Who Cook
Now in its 13th year, Men Who Cook continues to raise awareness and critical funds to support Pace Center for Girls’ mission. Guests will enjoy live music, refreshing beverages, and opportunities to participate in a Wine and Whiskey Pull along with live and silent auctions. Back by popular demand, the Professional Chef category will showcase delicious dishes from some of the area’s favorite restaurants and longtime Pace supporters. As always, one talented chef will be chosen to receive the People’s Choice Award. Attendees can vote for their favorite dishes by placing tips using “Pace Bucks” or cash into chefs’ tip jars. Guests can also participate in the MWC Menu of Giving, which provides direct financial support to the girls and young women served by Pace Center.
Pace envisions a world where all girls and young women are safe, have economic security, and have the opportunity to use their voice in shaping their future. Pace Center for Girls provides a safe and supportive environment where girls can build healthy relationships, plan for their future, and overcome histories of trauma. When properly supported, all girls have the power to achieve their vision of success, creating ripples of positive outcomes for themselves, their families, and the community as a whole.
“My time at Pace has truly changed my life,” said Minnie, a 2025 Pace Center for Girls: Escambia – Santa Rosa graduate. “The staff and counselors gave me guidance, encouragement, and the support I needed when I felt like giving up. They motivated me to stay focused on my goals and reminded me of my potential every step of the way. At Pace, I learned not only academics but also self-confidence and resilience. I am proud that their impact helped me graduate and believe in myself more than ever before.”
Pace’s Day Program provides year-round academics, counseling, life-skills development, and career preparation for middle and high school girls, with individualized plans tailored to each girl’s strengths, experiences, and needs. Pace’s Reach Program provides counseling and support services to girls enrolled at district schools, bringing Pace’s life changing therapeutic model to them and their families throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. During the most recent fiscal year, Pace Center for Girls: Escambia – Santa Rosa served 220 girls through its two programs with 104 in the Day Program and 116 in the Reach Program.
Before enrolling at Pace, many girls faced significant challenges:
- 46% have experienced abuse or neglect
- 62% were failing school six months prior to enrollment
- 30% had been suspended six months prior to enrollment
- 80% demonstrated behaviors related to juvenile delinquency or were already involved in the Juvenile Justice System
- 51% were disengaged in school and community life
- 60% of Reach Program participants reported feeling sad or hopeless, including thoughts and/ or acts of self-harm
Program outcomes demonstrate powerful, measurable success for Pace girls:
Day Program Outcomes
- 100% had no new involvement with juvenile justice 12+ months after program completion
- 80% of girls improved academically
- 90% are engaged in their new school and/ or employed after program completion
Reach Program Outcomes
- 82% improved healthy social relationships with peers and family members
- 92% are engaged in their community, measured by an increase in healthy behaviors
“Pace helps girls recognize and embrace their own uniqueness while encouraging them to build on their strengths,” said Pat Franklin, 2025 to 2026 Board Chair. “I deeply admire how the staff consistently look for innovative ways to enhance services for girls and their families. That creativity, paired with encouragement and affirmation, is what makes Pace such a special place, and why I am honored to be part of its mission.”
Since its founding in 1994, Pace Escambia-Santa Rosa has served more than 4,000 girls in our community, empowering each one to rewrite her story and create a future defined by hope, confidence, and possibility.
For more information about Pace Center for Girls: Escambia-Santa Rosa, or if you know a girl who could benefit from our services, please visit our website at: https://www.pacecenter.org/locations/florida/escambia-santa-rosa
About Pace Center for Girls
Founded in 1985 in Jacksonville, Pace provides free year-round middle and high school academics, case management, counseling, and life skills development in a safe and supportive environment that recognizes and deals with past trauma and builds upon girls’ individual strengths. Dedicated to meeting the social, emotional, and education needs of girls, Pace has a successful and proven program model that has changed the life trajectory of more than 40,000 girls and is recognized as one of the nation’s leading advocates for girls in need. For more information on Pace Center for Girls, visit www.pacecenter.org.
